Classic Weekend of Sport: Best Bets for the St. Leger, North London Derby, and More

With the first of the international breaks out of the way, the Premier League returns with a bang this weekend. Fans are in for a treat with a double TV bill on Saturday evening, followed by the usual Super Sunday brace of fixtures. It’s also a big weekend on the racing front, with the English and Irish St. Leger and a cracking edition of the Irish Champion Stakes from Leopardstown.

Here, using data presented by NewBettingSites.uk, we pick out our best bets in the Premier League and top-class racing entertainment.

Saturday: Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes – Leopardstown, 3:25

Having looked like a potential superstar when romping home in the Dante Stakes, racing fans were made to wait a little while for their next sighting of the William Haggas-trained Economics. However, the son of Night Of Thunder proved that York effort was no fluke when landing the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano on his recent return from a 91-day break. That performance sees him top the market for this at a general 6/4. The time of his Dante win was good, and he remains open to further improvement, but that price is a little skinny for a horse tackling Group 1 company for the first time.

As a Classic winner, Irish Derby champ Los Angeles merits the utmost respect. His peak career efforts have come over 1m4f, but he is a perfect two from two over this 1m2f trip, including the Group 1 Criterium De Saint-Cloud as a juvenile. Arriving on the back of a win in the Great Voltigeur, he should go well.

2023 St. Leger hero Continuous is an intriguing each-way contender, having bounced back to form over this trip last time out at the Curragh, but this can go to his stablemate Auguste Rodin.

Whilst Economics plunges into Group 1 waters for the first time, Auguste Rodin has already won six times at the highest level, including the Epsom Derby and this race last season. The son of Deep Impact is admittedly an enigmatic sort but is a perfect two from two at this track, two from thee over the distance, and six from 10 in Group 1s. All of which makes odds of 5/2 perfectly fair. Aidan O’Brien has won the past five editions of this and can make it six in a row in 2024.

• Recommended Bet - Auguste Rodin to win @ 5/2 with BetMGM

Saturday: Betfred St. Leger Stakes - Doncaster, 3:40

Aidan O’Brien dominates the 2024 edition of the world's oldest Classic, with three of the seven runner field making the trip over from his County Tipperary yard.

The consistent Illinois tops the market following his close second to Los Angeles in the Great Voltigeur. Already a winner over just shy of this distance, he makes obvious appeal but is priced accordingly. Jan Brueghel arrives as the only unbeaten runner in the field and is likely open to further improvement, whilst Grosvenor Square has improved markedly since stepping up to staying trips.

The Ralph Beckett filly You Got To Me adds significantly to the race following her supplementary entry and already has one Classic in the bag this season, whilst David Menusier’s Sunway finished a solid fourth in the King George last time and may enjoy this step up in trip.

All have chances, but in an open year, the one underestimated in the market is the Owen Burrows runner, Deira Mile. Catching the eye when staying on late for fourth in the Derby, he finished just 1½l off subsequent Irish Derby winner Los Angeles that day. Los Angeles would likely have started as the favourite if lining up, whilst Deira Mile can be backed at 16/1 with BetGoodwin. Going in the first-time blinkers and a possible improver over the distance, he's the value call in a fascinating contest.

• Recommended Bet - Deira Mile each way @ 16/1 with BetGoodwin

Sunday: Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal 2:00pm

All eyes on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first leg on Super Sunday as Arsenal come to town for the North London Derby. Both sides arrive on the back of a disappointing result – Spurs tasting defeat despite dominating for large periods against Newcastle and Arsenal being held to a draw at home to Brighton.

Recent history suggests we could be in for an entertaining encounter, with the sides sharing nine goals across their two games last season – Arsenal winning 3-2 in this clash and the game at the Emirates ending in a 2-2 draw.

Richarlison is the only confirmed absentee for Spurs but the Gunners may have problems in midfield; Declan Rice is suspended, whilst the influential Martin Ødegaard has emerged as a late injury doubt.

At full strength, Arsenal would be fancied to win this. However, those absences in the centre of the park are significant – depriving Arsenal of steel and the player through whom their game flows. Spurs have racked up the chances in their games to date (posting 20 shots in defeat at Newcastle) and, with Dominik Solanke returning from injury, can take the points.

• Recommended Bet - Tottenham to win and Both Teams to Score @ 7/2 with Midnite

Sunday: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Newcastle United 4:30pm

We move up to Molineux to round off the Match Day four fixtures, as Wolves host a Newcastle side unbeaten in three so far.

Gary O’Neill will hope this goes better than the side's most recent Premier League fixture here, which ended in a 6-2 hammering at the hands of Chelsea. A 2-0 EFL Cup victory over Burnley and a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest suggest he may have rectified the defensive issues, but Newcastle’s threat in the final third is significantly greater than either of those sides.

Newcastle are yet to hit anything like top form – losing the xG battle in all three Premier League games but coming away with seven points. On the plus side, the excellent Fabian Schar returns from suspension and Sandro Tonali appears to have wasted little time in finding his form following his extended absence.

Not a straightforward match to call, with the sides sharing the spoils in a 2-2 draw last term. However, Wolves continue to look vulnerable to the counter and a Harvey Barnes, Alexander Isak, and Anthony Gordon front three should find enough moments to use their pace and creativity. This looks like a good opportunity for the Magpies to pick up a first away win of the season.

• Recommended Bet - Handicap betting: Newcastle -1 @ 19/10 with LiveScoreBet

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